Need some Guidance

[Guest guest]

As a Mom of (classified Communication Impaired) Twins with apraxia and a

teacher, I always have to throw in the " MY CHILD DOES NOT HAVE TO FIT INTO YOUR

PROGRAM...YOUR PROGRAM HAS TO FIT MY CHILD line.?They really can't argue that

point and it gets my concerns across.? Personally, I feel that most inclusion

teachers aren't really doing their jobs.? Simply taking a spelling list and

cutting it from 20 words to 10 is nice but anyone can do that.? They are

supposed to take the teacher's lessons and? modify them to your child and his

ability or way of learning.? For example, my sons don't learn by writing

definitions?for 15 explorers and conquerors and what they did....for the most

part they cannot even pronounce them --Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca or Cuauhtemoc-

so when I brought this up to the inclusion teacher she agreed.? By 5th grade,

most kids will know which way they learn best...auditory, visual, tactile, a

combination, etc.? It is the teacher's job to help all the kids in the class

with that study skill.....but then again, we know that all teachers shouldn't be

teachers.....Keep the paper trail going, stay calm at your meetings and once

frustration starts at homework time, it's time to close the books!!

Just my opinion,

Kathy (NJ)

[Guest guest]

Sandy When I read your message I am not just saying this -I read " Wow

-this kid is really working hard and making strides -good for her and

kudos to you! "

I am already not liking the image you are providing of the teachers in

's school. How dare they try to take a child that is clearly

based on what you have written working hard to overcome and assume

that her cognitive abilities have anything to do with the disabilities

she is working hard on!

If I were you I would run to get some sort of receptive testing for

- private however and as you know there is no reason you have

to let the school know prior. Make sure you have the testing done by

someone that is knowledgeable about how to test children who have

motor planning, weakness and speech issues. The reason I am pushing

for you to do this is that you say that has " global " delays

(which to many that means it includes cognitive) So in some ways she

is viewed as having a " global delay " already -and so to me it's even

more important to get testing for advocacy reasons.

No matter what the school says she is entitled to a FAPE in the LRE.

From what you are describing she probably needs at least a few days a

week of one on one speech therapy (not group) This is something I

really want to help you more on. Please let me know -do you have a

private SLP working with as well?

Here's two links just to start

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/therapymatrix.html

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/therapyintensity.html

Also have you read The Late Talker book?

About the potty training- I can post a ton of archives here but most

in this group don't potty train until late 3s to early 4s. This is

probably due to the tonal issue -but could be motor planning too.

Could also be that our children are dealing with so much more on their

plates as I was told back when my son was 3.

About the augmentative device -I'm a huge fan of alternative

therapies, however most of our children don't need a high tech one for

preschool -most of us use simple sign/PECS in the preschool years.

Isn't your child just turning 3? Let me know when you have a chance.

=====